External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar made it clear on Saturday that his upcoming visit to Islamabad for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit is strictly focused on the multilateral event, not on discussions regarding India-Pakistan relations.
Speaking during the Sardar Patel Lecture on Governance in New Delhi, Jaishankar said, “I am scheduled to go to Pakistan in the middle of this month for the SCO Heads of Government meeting. My visit is not about India-Pakistan relations; it’s solely to be a responsible member of the SCO.”
Addressing potential media speculation due to the tense nature of India-Pakistan ties, he said, “While there may be a lot of interest because of the relationship between our two countries, I want to be clear—this is a multilateral event. I will be there as a good member of the SCO, and as a courteous person, I will behave accordingly.”
Jaishankar also pointed out that Pakistan, like India, is a relatively recent member of the SCO, which is why the meeting is taking place in Islamabad. “It so happens that the summit is being hosted in Pakistan this time, but that doesn’t change the nature of my visit,” he added.
When asked about his preparations for the summit, Jaishankar said, “In this business, you plan for everything—both what you’re going to do and what might happen unexpectedly.”
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Friday that Jaishankar would lead a delegation to Islamabad for the SCO summit, scheduled for October 15-16. The visit comes after India received a formal invitation from Pakistan in August for the Council of Heads of Government meeting.
This visit follows Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s participation in the SCO meeting in Goa in May 2023—the first visit by a Pakistani Foreign Minister to India in six years.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, founded in 2001, consists of nine member states, including India, Pakistan, China, and Russia. It also has observer states and dialogue partners from various regions, making it a significant platform for regional cooperation and diplomacy.
Despite the strained relations between India and Pakistan, the SCO has provided a platform for both countries to participate in multilateral discussions on security, economic, and regional issues. However, as Jaishankar’s remarks indicate, this visit will not serve as a bilateral dialogue on the longstanding tensions between the two nations.
(Inputs from ANI)